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Families of haj pilgrims wait for return of loved ones from Philippines
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Stranded -- In this photo provided by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, Indonesians carrying Philippine haj passports wait after being intercepted by authorities on Aug. 19 at Manila's airport before they boarded their flight for Saudi Arabia to participate in a haj. Officials said the 177 passengers' identities were revealed as Indonesians because they could not speak any Philippine language or dialect and could only converse in English. (Bureau of Immigration via AP/-)
T
he families of 177 Indonesian haj pilgrims arrested by Philippine authorities over an alleged passport scam warmly welcomed a confirmation conveyed by the Foreign Ministry that it would immediately repatriate their loved ones.
Tahir, 26, a resident of Ajangale district, Bone regency, South Sulawesi, said he was grateful that his father, Nurdin bin Palla, one of the 177 haj pilgrims, would soon return to Indonesia. “Hopefully, we can immediately see him,” said Tahir on Thursday, adding he got the good news from mass media.
As reported earlier, the government is in the process of repatriating 168 Indonesian citizens arrested for attempting to go on the haj via Manila, the Philippines.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir said it was expected the pilgrims would fly back to Indonesia on Friday or Saturday. Meanwhile, the remaining nine pilgrims were to remain in Manila for further investigation.
Tahir said he last communicated with his father shortly after he was moved to the Indonesian Embassy in Manila from a Philippine immigration detention facility.
Tahir said his father told him that his condition was better. “He said he had changed his clothes because Indonesian Embassy officials gave him clothing. I never received another phone call since then,” he added.
Amriadi, 30, said he was worried about his wife, Rosdiana, 30, who had been detained for 10 days in the Philippines. Their only child also missed her very much.
“I always pray to God that she [Rosdiana] can still make a haj to Mecca, but if it cannot happen, it will be better that she can be immediately returned home so we can unite again.” (ebf)
